Watsonians will have a former Scotland internationalist in their number at Mayfield but Dundee HSFP have countered with the aid of a current cap with close club connections,.
Scotland and Lions No 8 Simon Taylor will be in the second row for the Edinburgh club while current international prop Alasdair Dickinson came to a session with his old club this week as they look to bounce back from the loss at Peebles last week which saw High drop to sixth in BT National League One.
However the damage was limited with just four points covering the five teams now trailing unbeaten leaders Selkirk by some distance, after the Borderers defeated GHA at Braidholm in the clash of the top two in the division.
Dickinson came up with High and played for the club until signing pro terms with Edinburgh.
Last week’s assistance was primarily focused on defence, both individual and collective, but head coach Colin Robertson felt there were also “two or three wee pointers which will really help us going forward”.
The Peebles result was disappointing High were held off the try count for the first time this season but “almost a perfect storm,” thought Robertson.
Watsonians’ team is much changed from the squad who lost out in the promotion play-off chase last year, beating High home and away.
Taylor, now 35, is back in the capital after a pro career that has taken him from Edinburgh to Stade Francais and most recently Bath while winning 66 caps and twice being selected for the Lions.
Howe of Fife righted the ship in fine style in National League Two last week with a customary home bonus point victory, this time over Ardrossan Accies, and have a clear point lead at the top after Falkirk couldn’t get a bonus at Kirkcaldy.
The crunch comes with Howe at Sunnyside taking on Niall Lear’s side in a contest that could have a crucial bearing on the entire campaign.
Garry Horne shuffled his side a little after the loss to Cartha and eight players shared in 10 tries in the 62-0 romp against Ardrossan, Angus Guthrie slotting at 10 with six conversions.
National League Three saw Perthshire record their second away win in succession and move into a position of mid-table comfort with a hard-fought victory at Hawick YM, while Dunfermline landed their overdue first points of the season by sharing a 23-23 draw at Murrayfield Wanderers.
Dunfie aren’t likely to get much respite from that result with unbeaten leaders Dumfries at McKane Park, although the saints did have their wings unexpectedly clipped by Irvine last week.
Shire are now only five points behind third-placed West of Scotland who are the visitors to the North Inch, with a chance that they could join the promotion chase in earnest with a home victory.
Gordonians and Glenrothes lead the way in Caledonia Division One but Glens needed the full 80 to get their full complement of points against Hillfoots last week and stay second.
They’re at Stonehaven to take on Mackie FP, who have been pretty solid at home thus far. Morgan, who lost to Mackie last week, have the difficult trip up north to Thurso to meet Caithness, while Hillfoots, now out of the relegation spots after two bonus points last week, host third-placed Highland.
The only surprise of the Bowl quarter-finals last week was Harris losing their season’s unbeaten record to Alloa at Elliott Road. Free to concentrate on promotion, as per the usual clich, they will be looking to bounce back against Carnoustie HSFP, again at home.